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Skeptic Summary #301

Jihadis, arresting the Pope, cheat the wrong way, go indie and more!

A Christian jihad - Texas Board of Education leading the crusade against reality.

Plans to arrest Pope, during Uk visit in Sept. - Plans that came to naught.

Editor’s Choice: Teacher helps kids cheat — gives wrong answers! - Derp, derp, derp.

Indie Skeptics — Indie Skeptics is the brainchild of Jeff Wagg, formally on staff at the JREF, and all-around skeptic and good guy. Indie Skeptics is, in Jeff’s words:

…a blogging project designed to give a voice to people of skeptical interests who aren’t affiliated with any organization or group. It’s also a place for people to speak on their own without fear of representing any group they might belong to.

So far there have been five great blog posts and I’m sure there will be many more to follow. Check it out!

You can also follow Indie Skeptics on facebook if you are so inclined. I am.

SkeptiQuote: I have as much authority as the Pope, I just don’t have as many people who believe it. — George Carlin

Wednesday: Well now, here’s the deal. Ricky was out. I (Kil) was at chat but I was running a fever and I left early. Dave was tired and also left, but thought he was logging chat so that he could use the log for this summary. I’m not sure what happened, but the log was lost or messed up and so this is what’s left of the highlights of last week’s chat. Sorry. I can say this: while I was there and lucid, it seemed to be a lively chat. And that’s the best you will get from our chat summary this week.

Come chat with us.

There were no new members this week.

(Not a member? Become one today!)

Arctic bugs may have the longest life-cycle on Earth

A Bigger Tent?

Buzz Aldrin’s Timetable for Colonizing Mars

CfI declares war on atheists

Childhood Obesity Blamed on Virus

Divided Minds, Specious Souls

In Science We Trust: Poll Results on How You Feel about Science

It’s The Data That Counts!

Looking for the Gorillas in Our Midst

Pornography scandalises the Sun, but it may help in IVF

Psychic Readings To Be Regulated In Michigan

Skepticality #138 — The Universe Verse

Skeptics as Model Train Lovers (Part 1)

Skeptics as Model Train Lovers (Part 2)

Teenager questions council on web ‘cure’

Texas school madness, and a potential cure

What Is Evo Devo?

What’s New by Bob Park

Whooping cough making a comeback in United States

Got some skeptic news items? Send them to us, and we’ll think about adding them.

The Wonder of Genetics: The Creepy, the Curious, and the Commonplace, by Richard V. Kowles.



“Why are some of us male and others female? What makes us short or tall, blond or brunette, light-skinned or dark? Why do some people look like their relatives, while others don’t? What causes defects of biochemistry that lead to debilitating illnesses and physical or mental handicaps?

The answer to all these questions is genetics. In this refreshingly clear layperson’s overview, distinguished geneticist Richard V. Kowles elucidates the importance and scope of genetics, showing its broad applications in many areas of life. As Dr. Kowles demonstrates, it’s no exaggeration to say that in life experiences genetics is everywhere.

Kowles devotes separate chapters to such popular topics as: the genetic differences between males and females, the potential effects of radiation on the human genome, eating irradiated or genetically modified foods, cloning, genetic therapy, stem-cell research, nature vs. nurture, and how genes are related to many diseases, psychological disturbances, and possibly other behaviors.

The author concludes by addressing common misconceptions about genetics and emphasizing the discipline’s potential for curing some diseases, extending human lifespan, enhancing medicine and agriculture, and generally improving society.”

— Product Description

Forum Topics:

1. PZ expelled from Expelled — Dawkins slips in!
2. Moon-walker claims alien contact cover-up
3. Funny FAILS
4. The Supper
5. Scattershots: gargoyles & grotesques
6. The Battle of Tehran
7. DADT Survey
8. DMV Senior Motorcyclist Handbook
9. Plans to arrest Pope, during Uk visit in Sept.
10. The B**BQUAKE — 911 — the end of atheism

Articles:

1. Fundamentalists Hate Noah’s Ark
2. Evolving a Venom or Two
3. Scientific Truth
4. Miracle Thaw — The Bogus Miracle
5. The Laundry Solution
6. The Bible’s Bad Fruits
7. Spam Alert
8. Is the Speed of Light Slowing Down?
9. TAM5
10. Skeptic Summary #300

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